Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 20
July 30, 2025
Blog Tour: NOT LUCILLE by Mike Steele
NOT LUCILLE
Mike Steele
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GENRE: Middle Grade Historical
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BLURB:
Ten-year-oldLucy Contento can't help but be seen and heard. And she's always in trouble forit. She talks too much. She's impulsive. She writes with the wrong hand. Herparents would be mad enough knowing she routinely earns afterschool detentions.They'd be furious if they found out she's been sneaking onto the campus of thenearby Trenton Academy for the Deaf. But there, Lucy has met Florence, a lonelyand profoundly deaf girl her own age. Florence doesn't mind Lucy's flaws.Though Florence can't speak, she has a unique way of communicating. If Lucy canfigure out how to learn Florence's special language, the two could be friends.
Lucydevises a plan, but it's going to cost a whopping $7.98-more money than she'sgot. She can't tell her parents why she wants the funds without revealing she'sbeen visiting Florence. Besides, her parents don't have a penny to spare. Herfather has been out of work for months. And nobody else in the Contento familyhas an income. Or do they ...? Lucy soon discovers she's not the only member ofher family hiding something. Can she get the money she needs while keepingeveryone's secrets? Or will her scheming land her in the biggest trouble of herlife?
Inthis story of friendship and belonging, a young girl navigates prejudice,punishment, and identity while establishing her voice in a world that oftentries to keep her silent.
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ExcerptTwo:
Lucy inched her head farther inside and felt her heartstarting to beat faster. She was close enough to make out that one of the bookswas a pale gray pad. The blonde girl was sketching some sort of landscapeinside, copying an illustration from the other book. The sketch was good. Theblonde girl was talented.
“Wow,” Lucy whispered, worrying for a moment that her lapseof judgment would give her away. She quickly remembered she was at the Deefies.The blonde girl probably couldn’t hear her.
Couldn’t hear her but could certainly see her. That’s whathappened not a full minute later when the blonde girl glanced up from her work.
Caught.
Lucy had to get out of there. She clumsily scooted backwardthrough the frame and pulled herself up, turning to run for the fence only afew feet away. She reached the hedges as fast as her short legs could get herto them. She was about to push through.
“Stop!”
Lucy stopped.
She turned.
The blonde girl stood at the open window. “Stop,” shecommanded again. At least that’s what Lucy thought the girl had said. Shecouldn’t be sure. The blonde girl seemed to have some sort of accent.
Lucy crept toward the open window and crouched down untilshe was face to face with the blonde girl. “You can talk?”
The blonde girl raised her hand and formed it into a fist.She pinched her thumb and index finger together. It looked like the gestureLucy had seen people use to indicate the phrase, a little bit.
“Can you hear me?”
The blonde girl shook her head.
A large raindrop landed in Lucy’s curls and dripped down herface.
Both girls turned their heads to the sky, from whichenormous droplet after enormous droplet began tumbling.
“I’ll come back tomorrow,” Lucy said, still looking up.
The blonde girl reached through the window and pulled Lucy’sface toward her own. Her grip was firm, her hands compelling.
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Review:
Lucy was starting 5thgrade, but it sure didn’t start off well. She never meant to get into trouble,but trouble always seemed to find her. One the first day, she gets classifiedas “disruptive” by the teacher and gets detention. Boy, what a way to get offon the wrong foot. On the way home, one building in particular intriguedher—the School for the Deaf. That’s when she meets a deaf girl named Florence,whom she has secret visits with. Soon, a friendship develops and Lucy tries tofind a way to get an American Sign Language dictionary. Unfortunately, with herdad, an Italian immigrant, being out of work, money was tight, which saddenLucy and frustrated the whole familyLucy was certainly a fun andenergetic girl. I liked how she was always thinking and curious about the worldaround her. She genuinely seemed to care and truly wanted to help.
Full of charm and heart, Lucy isable to better understand herself, her friends, and her family. Story showsthat there’s more than one way to communicate and express yourself. A fun storyabout friendship, understanding, and learning new things. A good read!
Rating:4 stars
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
MikeSteele is an elementary school librarian and former fourth and fifth gradeclassroom teacher. He has eight plays that are published and licensed forproduction in the school play market. Not Lucille is his debut middle-gradenovel. Whether writing plays or novels, he enjoys creating characters andsituations that make kids laugh. In his spare time, he likes to attend playsand musicals, create mixed-media artwork, and win prizes from claw machines. Helives at the Jersey Shore with his rescue tabby cats, Karen and Sox. If youspot him in the wild, he usually has a bubble tea in one of his hands.
Facebooklink: http://www.facebook.com/msteelewrites
Instagramlink: https://www.instagram.com/msteelewrites/
Websitelink: http://www.mikesteeleonline.com
BuyLink : https://books2read.com/u/4Arye0
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GIVEAWAY
MikeSteele will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.
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July 29, 2025
Blog Tour: LUCKY SECRETS by B.T. Polcari
Young Adult Cozy Mystery
Date Published: 6/23/25
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
With no good options, Sara enters the contest and finds herself at a fabulous mansion up against eight formidable opponents, each with a dark secret and all racing to solve seven levels of riddles and puzzles.
After a contestant’s body is discovered, Sara contemplates dropping out when another package arrives, its chilling contents making clear she’s at the center of a dangerous game with deadly consequences if she quits. But what it doesn’t say is—what happens if she wins?
Excerpt:
The white-haired man, holding a blue folder, addressed everybodyfrom the same open end of the seating arrangement as Percy had ten minutesearlier. “Thank you for coming. I am Creighton Winston, attorney for thecontest’s founder, whose name shall remain confidential. However, rest assured,this person is a generous philanthropist, scholar, and respected citizen.” Theattorney’s gaze traveled along the occupied sofas and chairs. “Has everybodybrought their envelopes per the instructions?”
Some nodded their assent, others held up letter and manilaenvelopes, all looking daggers at the man. I pulled my envelopes out and heldthem up.
“Very good,” Winston said. “Full disclosure, my firm only preparedthe invitation. The founder provided me with the sealed envelopes to go witheach specific invite. Only you and the founder know the contents of your secondenvelope.”
That statementconfirmed the so-called founder was the blackmailer. And assuming he owned ElSueño, he was also extremely wealthy. It made sense. With wealth comes power. Istudied the attorney. The man oozed money. Could he be the person behind allthis? Was he just pretending to be the founder’s attorney and in fact, I wasstaring at my blackmailer?
A smallish middle-aged woman with toned arms and perfect makeupraised a manila envelope like the one I received. Small dark-brown eyes thatappeared even smaller behind oversized black-framed glasses glared at theattorney. “Are you telling me you had nothing to do with this sordid envelopeand the despicable allegations it contains?”
“That is correct, Ms. Fantucci. All I know is, the founderbelieved some of you might have needed a little—push—to attend this meeting.And hence, your second envelopes.”
“More like a swift kick in the britches,” Scooter complained.
Mumbles and grumbles rolled through the room.
Winston forced asmile. “The founder imparted to me that every contestant was personallyselected because each of you has a secret that absolutely must remain—a secret.Especially from law enforcement.” He glanced at me and raised an eyebrow.“Since the winner of the contest will become fabulously wealthy, it would seem,everyone is here because of a potentially—luckysecret.”
Zoe’s head whipped toward me. With eyes wide, she mouthed law enforcement. I threw her a littleheadshake, even as my body exploded in tingles. I have no such secrets—anymore.I think. A picture popped in my head of the open safe-deposit box with the goldartifact, gold bar, and emeralds. With my name on the signature card. Somebodyobviously manufactured a secret for me. But why? And is it the same for all thecontestants? Were they also blackmailed into coming for something they didn’tdo? Or were they…
Review: It all started with a strangepackage with a $50,000 diamond and a chance to participate in a life-changingcontest. What to do?
Story is told in the unique andwitty voice of Sara, a college student. Although Sara tells the story in arefreshing way, there was still some considerable lag. It was the longnarrative and the long chapters that were the culprit for me. It took a whileto realize that Sara was, in fact, meeting a blackmailer in this “contest.” So,like the movie, Clue, everyone in a select group of people had a secret exceptthat there would be one winner with what would be deemed a “lucky secret.”O-kay. Rather odd and confusing.
Here is where we get too manycharacters thrown into the mix, which made it a little too confusing. Thissounded like a promising read. I liked the voice and the premise, but thedetails just seemed a little too scattered and confusing. I would’ve much preferreda simpler and quicker mystery. Typically, cozy mysteries have the dead body inthe first few chapters, but this one takes a long while to get to it.
The read itself was pretty good. Imight’ve been able to get into it more had I read the first book in the series,but, quite honestly, it wouldn’t have been a huge help.
A fairly nice read and a decenteffort.
Rating:3 stars
About the Author
B.T. Polcari is a graduate of Rutgers College of Rutgers University, an award-winning mystery author, and a proud father of two wonderful children. He’s a champion of rescue pups (Mauzzy is a rescue), craves watching football and basketball, and, of course, loves reading mysteries. Among his favorite authors are Richard Osman, D.P. Lyle, Frederick Forsyth, and Michael Connelly. He is also an unapologetic fantasy football addict. He lives with his wife in scenic Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Purchase Links
July 28, 2025
Book Blast: THE GRATEFUL GREEN DINOSAUR by Larissa Pemberton
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Larissa Pemberton will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Percy the green dinosaur explores practicing gratitude with the help of his friend Custard the unicorn, to turn his bad day around by turning his negative thoughts into positive ones.As a society, we often tend to focus on the negative. Teaching children to practice gratitude and shift their mindset toward the positive can lay the foundation for a happier, more fulfilling life.
Read an Excerpt
He stomps outside his cave to go meet with his friend Custard the unicorn. They have organised a nice playdate out on the sunshiny fields. But dark clouds quickly spread across the sky, and it starts to rain!
“Ahh no, I hate the rain!” exclaims Percy to Custard.
As you can see, Percy is very unhappy with the circumstances in his day. He begins to complain to Custard, “I have had such a bad day. Everything seems to be going wrong! I stubbed my toe, I burnt my toast, and now it’s raining!”
Custard responds calmly, “I’m sorry you feel like you have had a bad day. Your feelings are valid. However, focusing on the negative things in your day only brings about more negative things to complain about!”
“Oh really?” asks Percy.
***
Review: See how one bad thing leads toanother for, Percy, the green dinosaur. It takes his best friend to give himsome good advice.
“Focusing on the negative thingsin your day only brings out more negative things to complain about.”
With cute illustrations, thislittle story goes to show that a mindset can be a powerful thing. Whenever youfeel bad, just think about the things that make you feel good. A nice readabout being grateful.
Rating:4 stars
About the Author:
Larissa is a devoted mother to three young boys. Her path of self-discovery, shaped by the challenges and joys of motherhood—led her to discovering and embracing the life changing practice of gratitude. By incorporating it into her daily routine, she experienced a profound shift in her mental health and overall happiness. Now, Larissa is passionate in sharing this practice with her sons and other children, believing that learning gratitude at a young age can set the foundation for a life guided by joy and emotional resilience.Website: https://thegratefulgreendinosaur.com/
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/thegratefulgreendinosaur
Amazon: https://amazon.com/dp/0228829798
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July 26, 2025
Review: TEN by Gretchen McNeil
A house party on an island in themiddle of nowhere. For these teens, nothing could be better.
“Secret house party hosted by themost popular girl in school? People would kill for an invite.”
The landscape of the island andproperty were very descriptive—so descriptive that it slows things down a bit.But even though the story does take a while to get going, the read wasgenerally pretty captivating.
Ten teens were in a house. Amorbid video sends everyone on edge. A fierce storm knocks out all the power.Trapped on a secluded island. And the countdown begins.
The first death was a suicide andthe second was an accident. Right?
Story definitely had thatcreepiness vibe going. I mean, a killer was on the loose, killing the kids, oneby one. Who was the killer? Who was next? And who will be left standing?
Suspicion and panic run rampantamong the group.
A frightening and compelling read!
Rating:4 stars
Review: STRANGERS IN PARADISE: BRAVE NEW WORLD by Terry Moore
Francine is pregnant. Does she gothrough with the wedding to a man? Or does she tell Katchoo that she loves her?There’s still that sexual identity crisis here. Loved the illustrations! A niceread about love entanglements and afflictions.
Rating:4 stars
Review: THE GOOD SISTER by Leanne Davis
A wealthy, privileged wife didn’tquite have the perfect life. She was only supposed to pretend to have theperfect life. In reality, she endured rape and abuse by her political husband.Always.
Known as “the good sister,”Lindsey didn’t know how to tell Jessie, the sister that endured the abuse atthe hand of their father.
The narrative was simple, but longand slow. This was a nice read overall, but it felt too long for me. It soundedlike a decent story of getting a woman out of a domestic abuse situation. Anokay read.
Rating:3 stars
Review: STRANGERS IN PARADISE: FLOWER TO FLAME by Terry Moore
Definitely don’t mess with aParker girl. She will blow your ears off…literally. Loved the drawings and theaction scenes! These comics are definitely about girl power. Of course, thegirls have their own personal drama. Not sure what the Snow White sequence wasall about. A good read!
Rating:4 stars
Review: STRANGERS IN PARADISE: HEART IN HAND by Terry Moore
The last car scene was funny!After nearly having a heart attack, it’s all “are we there yet?” Again, I lovedthe illustrations! In this one, there is a question about sexuality. How canone love a man and a woman? And what happens when jealousy rears its ugly head?
A lot of drama and romanticentanglements. A good read!
Rating:4 stars
Review: STRANGERS IN PARADISE: DAVID’S STORY by Terry Moore
Even there is a kick-a actionscene that starts off this story, it’s not really that clear. I’m not surewhere the Chinese gangs fall into this. The politics were confusing. The artwork was cool as always. Looks like this David was the boy that was killed andthe boy’s killer was wracked with guilt. Were we going back in time here with aguy named David? An okay read.
Rating:3 stars
July 25, 2025
Blog Tour: GRANDMA'S BUCKET OF MERCY by Robin Carole
Children's Book
Date Published: May 28, 2025
Publisher: MindStir Media
📘 Book Description for Grandma’s Bucket of Mercy by Robin Carole
You are never too old or too young to learn life’s lessons.
From multiple award-winning author Robin Carole comes a heartwarming true story that celebrates the power of love, forgiveness, and generational wisdom. Grandma’s Bucket of Mercy is a touching tale of one young girl’s summer with her grandmother in 1960s California—and the quiet but profound lesson that would change two lives forever.
Ten-year-old Carole is sent on a mysterious errand involving her grandmother’s elderly neighbor, not knowing her grandmother is teaching her about the gift of mercy. Years later, Carole finally understands the full impact of that experience when a stranger shares how her small, anonymous acts of kindness transformed a life.
Beautifully written and deeply personal, this story is a tribute to the grit and grace of the women who survived the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression and to the enduring strength of intergenerational bonds. Grandma’s Bucket of Mercy is perfect for readers aged 9–12—and for the childlike spirit in every adult who believes in the quiet power of compassion.
✅ True story based on real-life events✅ Uplifting themes of family, kindness, and legacy✅ Ideal for ages 9–12 and meaningful for all ages🪣 Sometimes the smallest gesture can change everything.
Review: This book is a lovely ode to allthe things a grandmother has said and done for one little girl. See how shespends a 2-week visit learning little things about her grandma. Quick, short,and simple.
“What doesn’t kill you only makesyou stronger.”
This is where she begins theBucket of Mercy task of leaving goods for her grandmother’s cranky neighbor.Goes to show that a little kindness can go a long way.
“You are never too old or tooyoung to learn life’s lesson.”
A nice, little read.
Rating:4 stars
About the Author
Robin Carole is a multiple award-winning author and lifelong storyteller dedicated to preserving the legacy of the strong women in her family. A native Californian who grew up in the scenic wine country, Robin spent over 40 years in Deaf Education as a Certified Sign Language Interpreter, working with students from kindergarten through adult education.
Now retired and living in Spokane, Washington, Robin draws from real-life experiences and the stories passed down from her grandmother, mother, and aunts to write books that speak to the hearts of readers young and old. Her passion for storytelling began as a child, sitting at the feet of her family matriarchs, listening to tales of resilience, faith, and enduring love.
Her latest book, Grandma’s Bucket of Mercy, is a heartfelt tribute to the power of quiet acts of compassion—and a reminder that even children can change the world through kindness. Through her writing, Robin invites readers to revisit a time when life was simple, values were taught through action, and lessons of mercy could last a lifetime.
“My education, my work, my goals, and accomplishments are here for only a moment, but my family is a lifetime.” —Robin Carole
Fun Facts About Robin:
Her favorite meal is a classic Southern tomato sandwich She loves gardening, even if it mostly means pulling weeds Oldies music, storytelling, and pets bring her the most joy She still believes in the power of sitting together and sharing stories📚 Explore Robin’s books and discover stories that stay with you—because the lessons we learn from our grandmothers are often the ones we never forget.
Purchase Links
